Summer 2007

The summer 2007 FOMP calendar is almost set. Trail days, as always, will be the second Tuesday of each month, 6pm, meet at the trail head on Mt. Herman Rd. We will also be hosting several other events: Dinner with the Hotshot and Helitac crews (May), Mt. Herman Rd clean up day (May), Tree Planting, and the annual Memorial Grove ceremony(May). Please check the calendar for details as we finalize dates. And please contact us at info@fomp.org if you wish to participate in any of the events and need more info.

Upcoming FOMP Elections

At 7:00pm Wednesday, 18-April 2007, The Friends of Monument Preserve (FOMP) are holding our annual membership meeting and board elections. The purpose of this meeting is to elect a governing board to direct the activities of FOMP as and as your representatives to interface with the community and the USFS. If you or someone you know is interested in a board position, or just want to be more involved in defining our goals and operational plans, please plan on attending. The meeting his held in the classroom in the Fire Center Administration area, follow the first left after Mount Herman Road turns to dirt and follow it in to the parking. Active FOMP members are eligible to vote.

Forest Revision Plan

The PSI is initiating a forest management plan revision process and is considering a variety of topics, including recreation. New policies created in the forest plan revision process will be in place for 15-20 years, making your input extremely important. Additional public collaboration opportunities will arise in the next year or two, but your comments now will lay the groundwork for the rest of this important process.

All forest users are invited to give their input. You need to speak up now an make your voice heard.

Comment cards are available online and take only a few minutes to complete.

Please mail, fax or hand deliver your comment card to any ranger district office on the PSI before March 30, 2007. For a list of locations and contact information, click here.

The PSI is requesting specific feedback on three primary questions:

1. The What: Considering what you know of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests (that may be related to places, resources, or topics of interest), a) what about the Forests do you think is working well and requires no change, and b) what about the Forests do you think should change?

2. The Why: Why should these remain the same or why should they be considered for future change?

3. The Where: Where are places that exemplify the issues raised in 1 and 2?

Thanks to USFS for the basic info at out last meeting and IMBA for some of the more specific wording which I have borrowed here.

NPS Listening Sessions in Colorado

This is from IMBA but may interest you if you’d like to have input into the future of trail access in Nationl Parks. A special thanks to IMBA for the info.

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Just this weekend, the National Park Service (NPS) announced four new public meetings in Colorado as part of a nationwide series where citizens will provide input on how national parks should be managed. IMBA urges mountain bikers to attend the listening sessions, in order to strengthen the productive relationship that mountain bicyclists have forged with the NPS, and to ask for increased bicycling opportunities in national parks for decades to come.

Read more about the NPS listening sessions and its Centennial Initiative to improve national parks.

Read an IMBA news release, including talking points for mountain bikers who attend the sessions.

Denver
Who: Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Interior
When: Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 5:00 7:00 p.m.
Where: Sheraton Denver West Hotel, Bergen Park Conference Room 2nd Floor, 360 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado
Contact: Stephanie Dubois 303-969-2283

Grand Junction
Who: Connie Rudd, National Park Superintendent for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area
When: Wednesday, March 21, 5:00 7:00 p.m.
Where: Double Tree Hotel (I-70 at Airport Exit), Grand Junction, CO
Contact: Dave Roberts 970-240-5432

Durango
Who: Larry Wiese, Superintendent of Mesa Verde National Park
When: Wednesday, March 21, from 5:00 -7:00 p.m
Where: Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango, CO
Contact: Mesa Verde Visitor’s Center 970-529-4465

Alamosa
Who: Art Hutchinson, Superintendent of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
When: Thursday, March 29, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Adams State College, Student Union Building, Room A131, Intersection of Stadium and First Streets, Alamosa, CO
Contact: Carol Sperling 719-378-6341

Board Meeting

This is a reminder that Friends of Monument Preserve will hold its monthly board meeting tomorrow 03/21/2007 at 7:00 PM. Additionally we will be starting monthly trail maintenance nights soon so stay tuned.

We meet in the fire center classroom building – the first large building on the right in the fire center.

If you need directions or have any questions please contact us via email (info@fomp.org) or you can call me directly.

Board meeting

This is a reminder that Friends of Monument Preserve will hold its
monthly board meeting tomorrow Wed. 02/21/2007 at 7:00 PM.

We will meet in the fire center classroom building – the first large
building on the right in the fire center.

If you need directions or have any questions please contact us via email (see ‘contact us’).

Successful Trail Crew Weekend!

The weekend of 9/30 – 10/1 FOMP held two trail work sessions.

On Saturday September 30 the all volunteer crew worked on perhaps everyones favorite trail – Mad Hatter/Rolly Polly/Twister. The crew worked to remove some old Gambel Oak roots that were a danger to hikers, runners, equestians, and bikers. The roots were sticking straight up where brush had been trimmed back last winter. The crew then proceeded to perform some sorely needed repairs on the trail where water had eroded the trail. Part of the historic flume trail was re-opened diverting traffic around a dry creek bed. This allowed the crew to restore the correct flow of water into the old flume and hopefully prevent further damage to this fantastic trail.

On Sunday the crew worked on the creek crossing from the spring to the pond. An ad-hoc bridge was causing water to flow down the trail and away from the pond. The crew removed the ad-hoc bridge and built a sustainable check damn/water bar that allows water to freely flow into the pond rather than down the trail. Several other rolling grade dip style water bars were then installed East of the pond to limit damage to the trail.

Special Thanks to al the volunteers, we can’t do it without you!

Saturday 30-Sept

  • Kim Nordby
  • Heidi McClure
  • Jerry Woerdeman
  • Nancy SpeilKamp
  • Herman SpeilKamp
  • Dan Cuvala
  • Dennis Manning
  • Chris Tirpak
  • Jon Nordby
  • Mike Temple

Sunday 1-Oct

  • Kim Nordby
  • Jon Nordby
  • Chris Tirpak
  • Drew Wacker
  • Luke LaBella
  • Kevin LaBella
  • Julie Lawton

Board Meeting 09-20-2006 – Minutes

Attendees:
Chris Tirpak, Mary Carew, Amy Smith, Diane Bandle, Jana Preheim, Jon Nordby, Kim Nordby, Nancy Spielkamp, Hermann Spielkamp

  • Jim Moore has been hospitalized and is no longer able to take on Treasurer’s responsibilities. Chris nominates Amy for position on the Board as treasurer. Vote: unanimous. Treasurer’s responsibilities, mail and keys handed over to Amy.
  • Extra newsletters were available for people to pass out.
  • Diane researched extra info on Aquacide for dealing with weeds in pond. Amy will try to identify the weeds this fall before they freeze. Will re-visit issue in spring when weeds begin to bloom again.
  • Jon said a new Eagle Scout project will start Oct. 7th on lower 715.
  • Trail work attendance was fair on Sept 12th. Next trail dates are Sept 30th at 9am and Oct 1st at 1pm.
  • Board will continue to solicit business sponsors with added advertisement & discount perks for membership.

Adjourned 7:50 pm